Where to find the best bagels in NYC

What is it? A pint-sized bakery that's stood in the Upper East Side for over 100 years. 

Why we love it: Still named for the family that ran it from 1916-2008, Orwashers has expanded all the way from the east to the west side in its century-plus in existence. Also part of the expansion? Bagels. Current owner Keith Cohen added to the bakery's rolodex of rye bread, adding bagels in 2016. Using a sourdough starter as a base, Cohen steams his bagels instead of boiling, creating a crust that snaps with a nice chew and ferment-y tang. It makes a formidable sandwich base, easily holding up thinly-sliced lox, dilly cream cheese and a pop of lemon zest in the New York Breakfast sammie.

Time Out tip: If you want more space to eat your bagel, the Upper West Side location has plenty of seating and is only two blocks away from Central Park. 

Address: Multiple locations, inc. Upper East Side, Upper West Side, the Bronx

What is it? A family-owned business whose bagels have been named “Best of the Boroughs" according to the dough gods at Bagelfest. 

Why we love it: Large, crusty bagels with pillowy insides are hallmarks—along with notoriously long lines—at this beloved shop, which launched in 1976 on 21st Street before expanding to Midtown East. Expect 18 varieties of house-made cream cheese, from sweet (blueberry, banana nut, Oreo) to savory (sundried tomato, cheddar, jalapeño), and an entire lunch docket of bagel sandwiches (turkey club, pizza bagel). 

Time Out tip: The only Ess-a-Bagel in Brooklyn can be found at our very own Time Out Market New York, Dumbo. We like ordering ahead via our app to skip any potential lines.

Address: Multiple locations, inc. Midtown and Upper East Side

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What is it? An old school shop where the bagels are hand-rolled and kettle-boiled. 

Why we love it: This West Village standby has been slinging superlative bagels in several varieties (poppy, cinnamon raisin, sesame) since 1996. The lines can be a little chaotic, but the spot somehow cranks through crowds clamoring for its fresh goods before you can even figure out where to stand. Long wooden benches line the wall, made for scarfing more than sitting before you hit the road. 

Time Out tip: If you need more between your bagel than just cream cheese, The Oy Vey! will certainly be up to the task with sausage, eggs, bacon and a potato latke.

Address: 500 6th Ave, New York, NY 10011

Opening hours: Mon–Fri 6am–5pm; Sat–Sun 7 am–4pm

What is it? New York's iconic appetizing store that has furnished the whole city with lox, herring and bagels since 1914. 

Why we love it: One step inside the little Lower East Side shop, and you've gone back in time. The black-and-white, standing room only store is packed full of any provision you could put your mind to—dried fruits, tins of caviar and capers by the literal gallon. But daily, you'll find a shoulder-to-shoulder crowd waiting for kettle-boiled bagels spread with a schmear of choice (including a caviar cream cheese) and damn near translucent slices of smoked salmon. It also has a morning and afternoon cafe nearby on Orchard Street, a fantastically gleaming retail factory not too far over the bridge in Brooklyn and another shop in the Hudson Yards.

Time Out tip: High holidays and weekends definitely bring the crowds, and with them, a wait. However, a recent 2pm visit on a Saturday yielded, surprisingly, a 15-minute wait before reaching the counter. So try your hand at coming later to skip the rush.

Address: Multiple locations, inc. Lower East Side and Midtown 

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What is it? A bagel shop whose killer sandwiches are just the kind of thing that can go viral. 

Why we love it: This New York-style bagel shop was once just a Bed-Stuy favorite, before its green awning also rose in the West Village in 2024. More than just flavored cream cheeses here, Greenberg's specialty lies in its variety of sandwiches, most of which stack and spill with spicy queso and cacio e pepe BEC's and tomato-ey shakshuka eggs. Much like sneaker drops, limited-time sammies at Greenberg's have included collabs with Adidas and Ducati next to local talent, including New York Nico.

Time Out tip: Greenberg's selection of sandwiches extends to the vegan crowd, as much of their veggie and animal-free creations incorporate Just Egg and soy bacon.  

Address: 1065 Bedford Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11216; 34 Carmine St, New York, NY 10014

What is it? A sourdough bagel operation that's caused all kinds of commotion, particularly on the weekends.

Why we love it: It bears to be said, we don't love the lines at Apollo Bagel (and apparently, neither do their landlords). But we admit, we do have a thing for them. Kettle-boiled but naturally fermented, these sourdough creations fly in the face of a New York-style with its pimpled face, hefty crunch and a telltale tang. But all of those things are what make it great and a sturdy vehicle for its relatively simple cargo of bright tomatoes, cucumbers and lox toppings.

Time Out tip: I can't say I necessarily condone waiting an hour long for anything in New York, particularly if it is the viral thing of the moment. Instead, I'd head to one of its locations (there are four) during off-hours and avoid the weekends entirely. A recent Tuesday visit at 10am yielded a store with just five people inside, and I was in and out with my bagel in ten minutes flat.

Address: Multiple locations, inc. East Village, West Village, Financial District

What is it? A bagel shop with Seinfeld cred that started in NYC before expanding nationwide. 

Why we love it: Though the original H&H closed in 2011 after 39 years, others have opened in its stead, including a return to the old Upper West Side neighborhood in 2022. Options across its spots include everything, cinnamon raisin and pumpernickel, all kettle-boiled and baked to create a product “like no other bagel in the world.” They also dabble in fun schmears, like the yearly rainbow cookie cream cheese.  

Time Out tip: The H&H Bagels location in Penn Station is a godsend if you are heading out of town in a hurry. Just make sure to have your order ready, they will ask for it before you reach the counter, so you can keep the line moving and make it to your train.

Address: Multiple locations, inc. Upper East Side, Upper West Side, Kips Bay

What is it? An old school institution that's a staple of the city for its bialys and bagels alike. 

Why we love it: Bialys may seem to say it all at this 30s-era Lower East Side Jewish bakery, but the bagels are among the city's best, too. The bagels follow the old tradition—they are kettled-boiled, baked on burlap boards and finished on stone. Malt syrup creates a rich sweetness in the end product. Plus, they give you plenty of cream cheese here that can easily supply your single order and then some. 

Time Out tip: It is kind of in the name, but an order of bialys on the way out won't hurt you. 

Address: Multiple locations, inc. Lower East Side, Hudson Yards

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What is it? One of the few solid bagel shops to exist in Harlem. 

Why we love it: Bo’s Bagels came into existence to fill an immediate need, according to Andrew Martinez and Ashley Dikos. That need? Finding a decent bagel in Harlem. Learning the ins and outs of the bagel trade—proper hand-rolling technique, kettle boiling them and baking them on bagel boards—the two began testing the waters with friends and family, eventually leading to a brick-and-mortar store in Harlem in 2017. Now you can find bagels with that glorious sheen in the northern part of Manhattan, generously dusted in sesame, poppy seeds and even za'atar, and schmeared with the likes of tofu scallion, maple walnut and berry almond cream cheeses. 

Time Out tip: Get inside the mind of Martinez by ordering the bagel that bears his name. The Andrew comes with sausage, egg, bacon and a drizzle of maple syrup, all over a nice helping of scallion cream cheese.

Address: 235 W 116th St, New York, NY 10026; 3750 Broadway, New York, NY 10032

What is it? A smoked fish counter turned empire, marked by all kinds of kosher provisions, pickles, coffee and more. 

Why we love it: This Upper West Side institution began as a smoked fish sop with in was founded by Louis Zabar, a Ukrainian immigrant, in 1934. Still a family business in its third generation, its present 20,000 square-feet host a feast of savory and sweet treats, including its signature malt barley flour bagels. 

Time Out tip: Coming to get a bagel without touring the grocery store is kind of sacriliegous. Go next door, and wander down the aisles stocked with coffee and glass counters dedicated to smoked fish. 

Address: 2245 Broadway New York, NY 10024

Opening hours: Mon–Sat 8am - 5pm; Sun 9am–5pm

What is it? A pandemic hobby turned viral bakery sensation, where ripping and dipping is mandatory. 

Why we love it: The instructions given to you at PopUp Bagels also read like a command from a dominatrix, as you are asked to “grip, rip, and dip.” But instead of flesh, the medium is bagels. They certainly aren't New York style, as these fist-sized, dense circles of bread rip like a baguette and kind of taste like them too. A bagel for the new age? That is up for debate. But we do maintain that the bagels here are a nice vehicle for all manner of schmears they dream up, from maple cinnamon butter to mac and cheese.  

Time Out tip: A bagel for one? It doesn't exist here, as the bagel shop only sells bagels in bulk, starting with a three-pack. 

Address: Multiple locations, inc. Upper East Side, SoHo

What is it? 13 years running, this bagel store, founded by a husband and wife team, now operates nine locations around NYC. 

Why we love it: It's likely you've been to a Bagel Pub at this point, what with nine locations spread across Manhattan and Brooklyn. But it is nice to kick it at the original Park Slope location to watch the hand-rolled, kettle-cooked bagels come to life, in varieties like cinnamon raisin, pumpernickel and garlic. Adorn them with smoked fish or the bodega breakfast of champions: bacon, egg, and cheese. 

Time Out tip: The vibrant array of flavored cream cheeses may just make you stray from a basic plain. The technicolor assortment situated in the window displays guacamole, cinnamon roll and jalapeño cheddar cream cheeses.

Address: Multiple locations, inc. Chelsea, Park Slope, West Village, Crown Heights

What is it? A mini-chain bagel shop that hawks NYC-style bagels in seven locations across the city.

Why we love it: What started as a humble store named after the owner's mother, Zucker's now has several locations around the city, bagged bagels in the freezer section and still holds the Guinness World Record title for the world's largest bagel and lox sandwich. But sans the behemoth 213-pound creation, a regular visit to Zucker's yields hand-rolled and kettle-boiled bagels that rank with the best of 'em. Mix and match a bunch of bagel varieties with schmears, salads and smoked fish, or turn them into egg sandwiches. 

Time Out tip: The store recently rolled out sourdough bagels for a taste of something fresh. 

Address: Multiple locations, inc. Tribeca, Flatiron, Grand Central, Upper West Side

What is it? This Fresh Meadows maker has been spinning "all natural, handmade" kettle-boiled then baked bagels since 1961.

Why we love it: A fire almost devasted this longstanding bagel haunt in Queens. Luckily, the team is back and better than ever. Much like before, varieties like egg-onion, everything and blueberry each have a crisp crust and interior so chewy and ideal it almost takes off the edge off the word moist. Practically a landmark, Bagel Oasis is also open an eye-popping 24-hours a day, every day. 

Time Out tip: There isn't an accessible train close by, so the best way to get a bagel is here is by car or bus. 

Address: 183-12 Horace Harding Expy, Queens, NY, 11365

Opening hours: Daily 24 hours

What is it? Timothee Chalamet's favorite bagel spot for a breakfast sandwich. No, seriously. 

Why we love it: Tompkins Square Bagel’s menu includes the expected options like plain, poppy and pumpernickel bagels, plus specialty selections like French toast and chocolate chip. Sandwich ‘em or select from fruit or nut spreads and cream cheese options.

Time Out tip: Tompkins has a lock on cream cheese—from the chocolate chip cookie dough and the pumpkin variety to vegan versions that include garlic herb and tofu lox. 

Address: Multiple locations, inc. Union Square, East Village

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